When Austria’s conservative People’s party bolted from its grand coalition government with the Social Democrats two months ago, forcing snap elections, party leaders expected to gain from the disarray among their erstwhile partner and regain the chancellorship lost in 2006.

But, as the September 28 general election looms, the formerly trailing Social Democrats have closed the gap. According to the latest opinion polls, the party is now widely expected to defend the narrow lead it gained in 2006.